RS:X - the Olympic class

The RS:X came about as a result of a successful bid by NeilPryde WIndsurfing to supply one design windsurfing equipment for the 2008 Olympic Games in China. The RS:X was designed in 2004 and went into production in 2005.

The RS:X design features a high technology rig, with carbon mast and boom, a ‘wide-style’ board that merges modern windsurf board design with a centreboard, thus enabling competitions to he held in virtually any condition from 3 to 30 knots. This means that the RS:X is always a dynamic, versatile class to observe, and racing is always close, exciting and visually appealing.

Two sizes of sail are available for competitors. Men use a 9.5m sail while women and youth use an 8.5m sail. The sail, rig and board have been designed in conjunction with each other in order to to ensure a high level of design synergy.

The RS:X Class Association was established in November 2006, and is critical to the establishment and ongoing development of the RS:X as an international Olympic Class.

The RS:X is the most affordable yachting class that is eligible for competition in the Olympic Games. It is also very easy to transport, as it can be carried on commercial aircraft as excess baggage, thus allowing sailors to compete internationally at minimal expense. This allows the scheduling of many regattas which can be attended by a large number of sailors from all over the world.

The inaugural RS:X World Championships were held at Lake Garda, Italy, and featured some 244 competitors. Subsequent World Championship Regattas in 2007 Cascais, Portugal and in 2008 Auckland, New Zealand attracted 186 and 193 sailors respectively.

More than 3000 sets of equipment have been sold since production started in 2005 to competitors in more than 50 nations in 6 continents.

The RS:X Class is actively involved in developing racing fleets in the U21, U19 and U17 Age Divisions who compete in separate World and Continental Championships. It should be noted that only the U19 Division is awarded World Championship titles for Youth Men and Youth Women recognised by ISAF due to the strict limitations that they impose on their number.

The RS:X Class has recently launched the RS:X Reach-4-The-Top Training Programmes to assist National Sailing Federations, Athletes, Coaches and National Technical officials gain more knowledge and experience. The class is actively organising clinics and training camps worldwide.

RS:X News

New Zealand continues to look strong in the Laser and Boy’s 29er classes at the ISAF Youth World Championships holding second place in both. Just two days of racing remain at the event being sailed in Kingston, Canada.

Three more races have been added to the leader board in the Laser class. NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team sailor Josh Junior, from Wellington was 4th, 7th and 13th and now sits 14 points behind the leader from Cyprus, and six points ahead of the Finnish sailor in third place.

New Zealand holds 2nd place in two of the seven classes being contested at the ISAF Youth World Championships in Kingston, Canada. Now at the halfway point in the event, the kiwis in the Laser and Boy’s 29er classes are well placed for a medal if they maintain current form.

Paul Snow-Hansen and Blair Tuke had a great day on the water recording two 3rd’s and a 2nd in the three races sailed today. They beat current leaders Sagaard and Kristensen of Denmark in all three races today and edged closer to the top spot, now just two points behind.

Racing is underway at the ISAF Youth World Championships being sailed in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Ten sailors are representing New Zealand in all of the seven youth classes being contested at this event which runs over eight days.

New Zealand has qualified to send a representative to the 2008 Olympic Games in the Women’s 470. Melinda Henshaw and Olivia Powrie earned the 470 spot for the country by finishing in 15th place, and just within the top thirteen nations in their class at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal.

Barbara Kendall has won silver at the RS:X World Championships being sailed as part of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal. New Zealand now has two medals after Andrew Murdoch also won silver in the Lasers.

New Zealand has now qualified for a place in six classes at the Olympic Games to be sailed in Qingdao next August. Overnight, places were confirmed in the Yngling and Finn classes, at the ISAF Sailing World Championships.

Barbara Kendall continues to climb through the RS:X fleet marching her way into 2nd place overnight with a 3rd and a 1st in last nights racing. The kiwi board sailing legend hasn’t looked back since a poor result in race two in shifty conditions – she now has five top three finishes from seven races.

“It has blown an absolute hooley all day long in Cascais, with fierce winds causing the abandonment of every scheduled race,” reports ISAF.

“The forecast did predict strong winds, but not the 35 knot blasts that swept across Cascais bay, climbing well over 40 knots on the outer race courses. Just after 19:00 the breeze did drop slightly to just under 20 knots and the Stars went out to sail their Medal Race, but the conditions worsened again and the fleet was sent back to shore.”

After 5 races the Kiwis are well positioned to secure places in the Olympic finals, in each case they are held back by a single bad result and all are showing signs of improvement.
Jon-Paul Tobin - currently 7th (6,RAF,4,2,3)
Tom Ashley - currently 14th (7,6,16,8,1)
Barbara Kendall - currently 6th (2,26,9,2,2)

Conditions were similar to that in day four at the combined World Championship event with blustery winds gusting over 30 knots on the outer courses while breeze on the inner courses was affected by the Sintra Hill behind the town meaning patchy and shifty winds.

All 200 RS:X board-sailors were held up by a postponement due to lack of breeze on their course. Because of the late start there was only one race sailed in both the Women’s and Men’s divisions; they have now sailed a total of three races.